Friday, July 11, 2014

Perfectly Imperfect

A villager[1]
in a country in the East had two big containers, which he hanged on each end of
a pole. He placed the pole on his back and carried water from the spring to his
house. One of the containers was broken, whilst the other one was perfect and
always transported all of the water which was placed in it. The broken
container, after a long and difficult procession, from the spring to the house,
transported only half of the water which the villager had placed in it. This
procession was a daily phenomenon, during a two year period, with the villager
transporting 1,5 containers of water.

The perfect container was very
proud for accomplishing its purpose, whilst the broken one was ashamed for its
imperfection, and was sad for being able to only carry half of the water, for
which it was made.

After two years of “failure”, the
broken container spoke to its owner, when he was filling it in the spring. “I
am unacceptable, and I would like to apologise. This last period I cannot
transport all of the water you place in me. Due to this defect you need to work
harder and of course you get more tired because of this”.

The villager then replied and
said:

“Have you noticed that only on
your side of the road there are flowers and not on the other side? And that is
because I always knew your imperfection and I placed seeds on your side, in
order for them to be watered by you. For two years I cut the flowers and
decorate the table in my house. Without you, and without your imperfection, I
would not be able to have all of these beautiful flowers, which decorate my
home”.

Teaching: Every person has some
and maybe a number of unique features. We might not be perfect; however it is
these specific characteristics that we have, which make our lives interesting
and charming. It is also important, and maybe imperative, that we accept
everyone with their unique qualities and try to discover the positive elements
in their personalities. All of us, working together, we have to take the right
path, the path of saintliness and of theosis.

[1]
This is a translation from the original Greek found in Σπουδάγματα, Τεύχος 12-13, Πάσχα 2006, p.3

About Me

I have studied Theology at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Theology, International Relations at the University of London (Queen Mary). My Master's Thesis was published as a book: 'The Aegean Sea Dispute Between Greece and Turkey - The Consequences for NATO and the EU'. For more information see: http://www.akakia.net/el/the-aegean-sea-dispute-between-greece-and-turkey
I have also studied Byzantine Music in Athens and I am currently undertaking a research on the “Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius and its contribution towards Anglican – Orthodox Relations”, at the University of Winchester.
I also represent the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain at the A.E.C.A. If you wish to contact me you can email me: demetrifs1@yahoo.com